In vitro propagation of Okra accessions (Abelmoschus esculentus l. Moench) through Nodal Cuttings

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus l. Moench) is an important multi-purpose vegetable crop and conventionally propagated by seed. Therefore, this study was set up to develop a regeneration protocol for three Okra accessions through nodal cuttings. The treatments were laid out in factorial arrangement of completely randomized design (CRD) design. Days to shoot and root initiation; percent of root and shoot initiation; number of shoot, leaf and root; length of shoot and root and survival rate of acclimatized plantlets were recorded for mean comparison. To induce shoot from nodal cuttings, MS medium supplemented with three levels (0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg/l) of 6-benzylaminopurinem (BAP) in combination with three levels (0.5, 1, and 1.5mg/l) of a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were used. The maximum mean number of shoots was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 2 mg/l Silver nitrate (AgNO3) for the three accessions.The maximum mean number of roots were recorded on media supplemented with 2mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and at accession Mandura. The tallest length of root was achieved on media without growth regulator and at accession Mandura. The maximum survival rate was recorded on accession Mandura followed by accession Akobo and Diga Leka after a month of acclimatization. Finally, in this study an efficient regeneration protocol from nodal cutting experiments was developed for large-scale multiplication, propagation and conservation of Okra.